Brooklyn in Kings County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Maryland Regiment Burial Site

Revolutionary War Heritage Trail

By Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008

1. Maryland Regiment Burial Site Marker

Inscription. The vicinity of 3rd Avenue and 9th Street is the presumed location of the burial site of the more than 250 soldiers of the Colonel Smallwood Regiment from Maryland. Nearby, in the swamps of Gowanus, during the Battle of Brooklyn on August 27, 1776, approximately 400 gallant men, under the command of General William Alexander, also known as Lord Stirling repeatedly attacked a British force many times their number. Their objective was to cover the American retreat across the Gowanus Creek to Brooklyn Heights.

The Marylanders held the British forces in check until the afternoon of August 27, 1776, taking heavy casualties from the British guns at the Old Stone House (Vechte-Cortelyou House) located at present-day 4th Avenue between 4th and 5th Streets. After the battle, the British buried the Maryland dead in mass graves on a hillock in the midst of the swamp. The exact location of the burial ground is unknown.

Erected by State of New York.

Location. 40° 40.28′ N, 73° 59.429′ W. Marker is in Brooklyn, New York, in Kings County. Marker is at the intersection of 9th Street and 3rd Avenue, on the right when traveling west on 9th Street. Touch for map. Marker is in front of the American Legion building

By Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008

2. Brooklyn Marker

on 9th Street and 3rd Avenue. Marker is in this post office area: Brooklyn NY 11215, United States of America.

More about this marker. The right side of the marker contains a picture of Lord Stirling leading the Maryland Regiment in the battle. Image Courtesy of the Guard Bureau.The bottom left of the marker features a picture of “Lord Stirling at the Battle of Long Island. Emmet Collection, Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations. Next to this is a map showing “A plan of the Battle of Brooklyn. This map highlights the approximate location of this historic site.”

Also see . . .

By Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008

3. Marker at the American Legion

Two markers, both relating to the fallen Marylanders, are found at this location.

3. A Forsaken Path to Glory. This article by Michael Daly was published Sunday, July 5th 1998 by the New York Daily News, identifies the burial site for the Maryland Regiment dead as being under the floor of the Nasu Auto Repair (which now seems to be New Millenium Auto Repair). (Submitted on January 23, 2011, by Peter D'Adamo of New Canaan, Connecticut.)

Most of the Maryland casualties during the August 27, 1776 Battle of Brooklyn occured in front of this Stone House, located several blocks north of the marker in Byrne Park.

By Bill Coughlin, November 1, 2008

5. Battle at the Stone House Diorama

This diorama of the Marylanders fighting with the British Troops is located in the Old Stone House.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2017. This page originally submitted on November 1, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 3,881 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 1, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey.